Skimmer for 125g: Bubble Magus 7 or other

[Scott Ulrich]

I currently have a sca301 skimmer that was brought over from my 40 gallon to a 125. Its fine for now considering I only have 4 fish, but figuring I'll need to upgrade.

Due to space constraints, I only have a 20g tall display sump, which contains my sca301, 2 heaters, 2 jebao return pumps and 10 mangroves.

Looking at the potential stock list:
1 x clown (current)
1 x bicolor blenny (current)
2 x banggai cardinals (current)
7 x chromis
1 x midas blenny
1 x tomini tang
1 x fairy wrasse

So my question:
Is a bubble magus curve 7 going to be adequate? It's rated 180 gallons light bioload, 125 medium bioload.

Thanks!
Scott

 

[vetteguy53081]

Bubble magnus
Reef octopus 110 or 150
Aqua maxx
Ice cap

 

[Scott Ulrich]

Bubble magnus
Reef octopus 110 or 150
Aqua maxx
Ice cap

Thanks for the suggestions! Here's what I've found

Aquamaxx FC-280, Marine Depot has a sale for $225
Aquamaxx FC-180, Marine Depot for $250
Aquamaxx RC-2, Marine Depot has a sale for $240
Bubble magus curve7, Aquacave has a sale for $230

The sump is a 20 gallon high, so usable footprint is about 11.5"x23".
Skimmer footprints and mfg bioload recommendation (high to low):
FC-280 = 11x9.5" (240-420 gallons) Sicce Shark 3.0 pump
FC-180 = 9.5x7.5" (130-250 gallons) Sicce Shark 2.0 pump
RC-2 = 13x7.5" (160-300 gallons) Sicce Shark 2.0 pump
Curve 7 = 9x8" (185-240 mfg , 90-180 brs) SP2000 pump

Seems like a good deal on the FC-280... but it would basically take up half the sump leaving not much room for heaters, pumps, mangroves. I could probably make it work though.

Worth noting, my tank is not drilled... I'm running two eshopps nano overflows, which are each 200 gph and 2 dc return pumps which are rated max 315 gph each, but are not running max. So I'm thinking my sump turnover is around 400 gph.

 

[vetteguy53081]

SICCE is my favorite for pumps

FC280 skimmer would be my choice and very easy to clean

 

[Scott Ulrich]

SICCE is my favorite for pumps

FC280 skimmer would be my choice and very easy to clean

Thank you, I went ahead and ordered it, should be here by the end of the week! I've heard good things about the sicce pumps, but not so good things about the Aquamaxx packaging, so hopefully it arrives in one piece...

 

[Scott Ulrich]

SICCE is my favorite for pumps

FC280 skimmer would be my choice and very easy to clean

The FC-280 came yesterday and I got it set up and in the sump today. It's just a little bigger than my old sca-301

It is quite a bit noisier than my old skimmer, but but not unacceptable unless you like the room completely silent. Seems like it is breaking in quickly and already making good bubbles/skimmate.